Wed, 06/10/2009 1:02 PM | The Archipelago
BANYUMAS, C. Java: The number of people with HIV/AIDS in Banyumas regency was the second highest in the province after Semarang, the regency AIDS committee secretary Sudjatmiko said Tuesday.
Sudjatmiko said, as of May this year, the regency, which has a population of 1.6 million, had 323 people with HIV/AIDS - 253 HIV- and 70 AIDS-positive - excluding 36 people who had already died.
"Every year the number increases. The regency administration seemed unaware and gave no serious attention to the matter,."
He said the administration's reluctance to legalize brothel complexes contributed to the difficulties in preventing the spread of the disease. - JP